2 Reasons Why Your Vision Board Might Suck (and How to Unsuck It)

Brian Johnson | January 10, 2013 | Inspiring, Living, Working

Got a vision board? Here are two big reasons why it might suck and, more importantly, how to unsuck it!

Science says: Not all goals are created equally. And, did you know it’s actually much more effective to imagine the *steps* you’re going to take to achieve your goals rather than just visualizing the outcome itself?

* This is a Big Idea from my Optimal Living 101 classes.

Brian Johnson is the Philosopher and CEO of en*theos—a company he created with his wife, Alexandra. Brian has a daily video series called “Optimal Living 101,” created PhilosophersNotes, wrote a little book called A Philosopher’s Notes, has a monthly “Big Ideas” column in Experience Life magazine, and was featured in the documentary Finding Joe. You can also follow Brian on Facebook and Twitter.

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http://www.facebook.com/marty.whittle1 Marty Whittle

Nicely done !!! Good reminder to stay on the more humble and serving path to self fulfillment .
marty
- http://twitter.com/_Brian_Johnson Brian Johnson
  
  Thanks, Marty! Here’s to serving and flourishing!
http://twitter.com/DonnaMullin Donna Mullin

Great ideas presented in an understanding and fun way! Just one comment… The Bruins are Boston’s hockey team, not basketball! Our basketball team is the Celtics!! I just went to his wiki page and it’s really confusing. They do mention the Bruins and basketball but not hockey or the Celtics…
- http://twitter.com/_Brian_Johnson Brian Johnson
  
  Thank you, Donna!! And… Go *UCLA* Bruins!
  - http://twitter.com/DonnaMullin Donna Mullin
    
    Right!! I just listened again… I heard Boston! I swear I heard Boston which of course is impossible because you never said Boston!! Well, at least it made me listen again to this very useful presentation! The ideas presented are worth listening to several times and then I think I should come back in a few months and listen again! Thanks again for creating this! <3
    - http://twitter.com/_Brian_Johnson Brian Johnson
      
      heheheh. Thanks!!
Pajamas Notebook

I think this is the best thing I have heard in a long time!! People are constantly chasing this idea of what sucess should look like… I.E. big homes, fancy cars, hot bodies, etc. Then wonder why they aren’t achieving and even more sad, getting down on themselves when they dont’ achieve it. In order to have happiness, success and a fulfilling life, you need to focus on you and your own inner happiness. When you can take and put joy into everything you do, sucess and achievment come easily. When you find and follow your life passion, you will never work a day in your life and will be able to achieve your vision board goals.
- http://twitter.com/_Brian_Johnson Brian Johnson
  
  Thank you and amen! Here’s the intrinsic goodness!
http://twitter.com/Limitlessheart8 Limitless Heart

I am confused. Dyer and so many others I read and follow emphasize “acting as if”; meaning, you act as if the desired outcome has already occurred and you’re living it. At least that’s my interpretation of their suggestions. Your approach seems to contradict this idea of “acting as if.” I am not sure how to reconcile the two theories. Moreover, I thought the “cursed hows” (the steps) only clouded our vision. I really need to wrap my brain around this, since as a teen life coach myself, I often encourage my clients to do vision boards. I’d like to make sure I am guiding them in the direction that will help them envision what they truly want and believe with certainty that they can attain their dreams.
- Secretgal
  
  I am light years older than you Limitless but I agree with you totally. The notion that we should focus on the “steps to success” rather visualizing our desired outcomes “as fact” goes against what most theologians, philosophers, and teachers of Positive Thinking teach. Vision boards are supposed to reflect our desires and with teachings of gratitude, appreciation, and joy, we will be presented with courses of action to achieve what is on our boards. It may sound hokey to those unfamiliar with the power of positive thinking, which dates back centuries, but it is nevertheless true. At any rate, the message presented in this video does not carry any weight with the legions of folks who actually have studied knowledge on the subject. Not even sure who this man in the video is. Probably a nice fellow but I don’t feel he has studied enough on the subject.
  - http://twitter.com/_Brian_Johnson Brian Johnson
    
    Hi there: This is Brian. I created the video. I appreciate your belief that I’m probably a nice fellow. Please see my prior response to Limitless. I didn’t say we should focus on the steps *rather than* our vision. I said that we should focus on our vision AND also on the steps/challenges we will need to take/face en route! The research shows that this leads to more success.
    
    Ultimately, we all need to do what we believe will work best for us, but I think it’s important to marry the esoteric teachings of the ancient and modern masters with modern-day science. It’s not an either/or proposition!
    
    And there’s no debating that an intrinsic focus (which all truly great wisdom teachers profess) is where it’s at. Most self-help-ish vision boards are all about fame/wealth/hotness which just don’t lead to happiness.
    
    To optimizing! -b
    - Mahindra
      
      I disagree and agree with what you’re saying. I was a bit confused too when I first watched the video cause you mentioned “focus on the steps you need to take” several times.
      
      Now with your written explanation and listen to “the meaning behind your words” in the video I can see you actually mean “focus on who you need to become in the path to getting to your goal” when you were using the word “steps” repeatedly.
      
      If this holds true, then yes, I agree, focus on the “intrinsic” i.e. “who you need to become and will become as you begin moving towards your vision” is definitely the key.
      
      I’m just sayin’, using the word “steps” repeatedly did cause confusion. Have a listen to it again and you’ll probably see.
      
      But thanks for raising this key point through this video. Great point!
      - http://twitter.com/_Brian_Johnson Brian Johnson
        
        I *deliberately* said we need to think about the steps (and potential challenges)! That’s what the science says works. AND we should maintain confidence in our vision. AND we should stay dynamic in the process. AND we should act the way our highest version of ourselves would act. It’s not either/or (never is! :0).
        
        Many vision-boarders/Secret-fans like to think that if they just visualize long enough things will happen. And they tend to focus on the external bling. Two reasons why they’re vision boards might suck!
- Jalapeño
  
  A lot of popular “positive thinking” theory is supported neither by modern psychological research nor by ancient philosophy. Yoga philosophy, for example, is very clear about emphasizing diligent practice and complete non-attachment to outcomes, even positive ones.
- http://twitter.com/_Brian_Johnson Brian Johnson
  
  Hi there! Having a vision *is* very important and vision boards *can* be great. Scientists tell us that it’s important to make sure that the types of goals we’re setting are more INTRINSICALLY oriented than extrinsically oriented as we know that people who focus on relationships + growth + contribution (intrinsic goodness) are more psychologically stable than those who focus on fame + wealth + hotness (extrinsic).
  
  The steps are also VERY important. As I mentioned in the video, research has been done that clearly demonstrates people who know they will face challenges are more likely to succeed. This is where a lot of new age visualizing has its limitations and goes against what science shows. We want BOTH a clear vision and an understanding that we *will* face challenges (no matter how many times we stare at a vision board and/or repeat a mantra! :0). That awareness actually helps performance.
  
  In terms of acting as if: I love that Dyer wisdom and I think they’re two separate things. Here’s a little video I did on Acting As If for my book. I’ll do another one in my journal style soon! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M43e08uXqsA
  
  Hope that helps and let me know if you have any questions. Love to you and your teens! -bri
  - http://twitter.com/Limitlessheart8 Limitless Heart
    
    I watched the video you mentioned. That helped. So, basically it’s similar to the idea of “going pro”; meaning, instead of visualizing others who have succeeded, or visualizing the house you desire, or the stage, or the Grammy or whatever, it’s visualizing yourself as the “pro.” What would the highest version of yourself look like and be doing? What would the “pro” version of yourself be doing? So, fewer pictures of other people looking happy. More pictures of your own growth, reminding you of the power within? What about someone who wants to be a screenwriter and dreams of selling that huge screenplay? Is it too extrinsic to put a signed contract (for the screenplay) on a vision board? Is it too extrinsic to photo shop a picture of yourself on stage receiving an Oscar for best screenplay? Again, just trying to really understand this all so I can best guide my teens as they build their vision boards and scrapbooks. Many thanks for your insights.
    - http://twitter.com/_Brian_Johnson Brian Johnson
      
      re: Acting as if: Yes! And then, most importantly (!): acting like that highest version of you NOW! Consistent action will always trump pure visualization. At some point we need to BE the person we’re know we’re capable of being and not just imagine it, eh?
      The signed contract is awesome. (vs. just having the mansions and six pack abs! I’d complement that signed contract with pictures of your work space and other things that symbolize the steps/work we’ll do to get there! And, that’s just one facet of our lives. We want to make sure we have images of our family/friends and other important roles for our lives as well.
      The Oscar can be cool but it gets into a challenge b/c *most* people want that b/c they want to be famous (an extrinsic goal). It might still be super motivating but we want to make sure we also focus on the contribution we’re making thru our art, how we’re growing, the relationships we’re cultivating, etc.
      Let me know if you have any other questions/thoughts. Fun!
      - http://twitter.com/Limitlessheart8 Limitless Heart
        
        Got it. Totally. Thank you so much! And yes, fun!
      - http://twitter.com/_Brian_Johnson Brian Johnson
        
        YAY! Thrilled to hear and thanks for your awesome questions and energy!
- Pivoine Miraculeuse
  
  it depends what your heart tells you, how you feel about these two theories…you feel better “Act as if?” do it…i used to do it (yes it´s very very popular) but i don´t like to “act” in my life…it´s hard for me, i live by vizualizing not just the goal but the steps, because i enjoy the steps to my goal, i enjoy life and every second of it and don´t want to be stucked in the moments “as if”…because for some people, as me, it´s hard to act i already have something and sometimes it can take really long time to get it or get there, so better than act if i have it, i better work on my goals with pure mind and pure heart.
  - http://twitter.com/_Brian_Johnson Brian Johnson
    
    I hear ya! I like the adaptation of “acting like” the highest version of ourselves: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M43e08uXqsA
- http://websoulsurfer.com websoulsurfer
  
  Focusing all your energy on the steps as the video suggests will cloud your vision and propbably make it impossible to achieve your goals.
  
  1st – Know what you want. If you don’t know what you want, then any action will do.
  
  2nd – Have a Burning Desire to achieve the goal. Without this, the rest doesn’t matter. Some have said if your why doesnt make you cry then its not strong enough to get you through the day to day steps you will need to take to get there. The ups and downs of the journey.
  
  3rd – Visualize the goal achieved.
  
  4th – Write a simple plan that allows for changes and then act on it today and act on it consistently.
  
  READY, FIRE, AIM.
  
  Action will:
  
  move you towards your goal
  stoke the fires of your motivation
  give you experience
  make the steps you need to take clearer
  
  Martin Luther King Jr said we don’t need to see the whole staircase to take the first step.
  
  You only need to plan the FIRST step. The rest will make themselves clear as you keep your eye firmly focused on your goal.
  
  Another example:
  
  In Supercamp we took our students on 2 hikes in the first week.
  
  One was 5 kilometers and went up a hill and then back down the other side to a swimming hole. You could not see your goal of the swimming hole. Every summer more than 30% of the students turned back before reaching the crest of the hill where their goal would be visible. They were concentrating on the steps. On what they had to do to get there.
  
  The 2nd hike was much further. Over 7 kilometers. But the goal, a mountaintop fire lookout cabin, was always clearly in view. Of the 60 students on the hike, an average of two turned back before reaching the goal.
  
  Why? The goal was the focus of the hike, not the steps they had to take to get there.
  
  Now the 1st hike had what should have been a very motivating goal, but the students could not see it in their minds first. The 2nd goal was clearly visible from the beginning and along the entire route.
http://JordanSchultz.com/ Jordan Schultz

I agree with the Intrinsic focus vs the extrinsic focus, so thanks for that!

But I have found that focusing on exact steps will limit possibilities in the mind as to coming up with solutions to obstacles that come up… rather when I focus on the goal or outcome and leave it up to my subconscious to achieve that outcome with whatever means necessary, I’m more likely to hit that goal.
- http://twitter.com/_Brian_Johnson Brian Johnson
  
  Hi Jordan: I agree that stressing ourselves out with “exact” steps isn’t the way to go. And, science says that spending some time thinking about the basic steps we need to take and the likely challenges we’ll face (while allowing for spontaneous adjustments, of course), is a wise way to go!
  
  Again, it’s not either/or. We want to hold a vision of our ideal AND imagine the steps/challenges (not precisely but roughly) AND allow for dynamic shifting while we remain confident in our abilities to rock it.
  
  Here’s another video you might dig where I talk about true confidence and this science in a little more detail: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSGrNSl6Dfc
  - http://JordanSchultz.com/ Jordan Schultz
    
    thanks man
    - http://twitter.com/_Brian_Johnson Brian Johnson
      
      My pleasure and thank you for the distinction!!
  - http://websoulsurfer.com websoulsurfer
    
    That is NOT what your video said. In fact it said exactly the opposite. You said to focus not on the extrinsic goal, but on the steps.
- http://websoulsurfer.com websoulsurfer
  
  Bingo. You have hit the nail squarely on the head. And your goals can be both extrinsic and intrinsic. Who do you want to BE (intrinsic) and what do you want to HAVE (extrinsic).
Pivoine Miraculeuse

I really like this one, it very resonates with me…it´s very trendy to talk about just vizualizing your goal, that you have to already feel that but i don´t like to get goal easy and immediatly. I love to work on my steps to the goal, i like the way itself to the goal, it just feels so good and on my way i´m “meeting” new goals.
This whole idea is written also in my favourite chapter my favourite book – The Little price…he meets a salesclerk who is selling pills invented to quench thirst. If you take one a week, you don’t need to drink and save fifty-three minutes a week. The little prince says he would rather spend fifty-three minutes walking slowly towards a well than to take the pill.
- http://twitter.com/_Brian_Johnson Brian Johnson
  
  Love that image!!
- http://websoulsurfer.com websoulsurfer
  
  You missed the point. Saint Exupery’s point is that its worth enjoying the trip to your goal as well as the goal, not that you should focus on the steps.
http://websoulsurfer.com websoulsurfer

Braaaaack. Wrong answer, but thanks for trying to play.
Have a burning desire. Visualize the end result as if it has already happened. Make a plan to get there, then ACT!
Your little video will hurt ALOT of people.
http://www.facebook.com/NICOLAJONESON Nicola Jones

Hi, thanks for taking the time to share this. There is some truth in it but maybe I can help a little more. I teach a workshop called “Renovate my Life” and this afternoon I am hosting another sold out Vision Board series. Here is what it boils down to: energy and emotion. After a meditation, I guide my classes into a visualization- what does you dream day in your dream life look like? Where are you? What do you hear, see? Who is there, who is not there?- as big and as detailed as you can get. We talk about actions to bring elements of that- immediately into your daily life so the mind can begin to conceive and believe it real, in smaller, easily digestible forms. The obstacle or the “sucking” factor is convincing the mind it is possible.Next we talk about how we create our Boards to represent our authentic desires and life. How to design one that serves and not drains. You may put that mansion on, get it and find out it overwhelms you (I have seen this happen). in order to be sure that Vision Board helps you manifest a beautiful life you must approach it from stillness. Do NOT flip through a magazine tearing out airbrushed images that look shiny and fun- that is SHOPPING (YOU DON’T NEED TO PRACTICE THAT) and all you will get is more “stuff” and less Joy. Instead after the above exercises ask yourself the following IN ORDER and do no more than one a day:

What do I want to: give, have, try, learn, be, see, share, learn.

Of course there is a lot more to my classes but I just really knew this fell before me for a reason this morning and wanted to help. *** always at the centre of your board should be those who you love, value and enjoy at their happiest. Blessings! Nicola Jones
ASapundjieva

Hi everyone. I finally start my research on “haw to make a visual board ” and this article pop up.Ok, i watched the video, new point of view on the subject and interesting approach btw. I think it is important to see and explore every possible angle of any subject, it might change your mind….you never know ! We learn every day !

What i don’t like is all those do’s and don’ts, it shouldn’t be something so serious and ” in frames “. U feel like pining a big beautiful house, do it, cause when we dream we dream big, right. U don’t imagine just any house. U know the steps that u need to take in order to achieve your dream job, then start working on them. Sometimes in life we knew exactly what we need to do, the steps part, and sometimes we know what we want but we don’t know haw to get there, the “dream big” and “no limitations part” . And yeas, we should believe in ourselves and that we are capable and try to be the best version but i think it is important as well to know that we don’t know everything, we don’t have every answer to the riddle and that should not stop us to dream big. So i would “live a space ” in myself and in my visual board where the magic could happen, cause i am a believer, it won’t hurt And yes, i would be as practical as well, baby steps.
I am not a pro. Just sharing my opinion.Thank you all for expressing yours ! ……and good luck

AS
Traveller

Found the first minute so patronising that I switched off. Who are you to say what goals people “should” aspire to? Particularly amused by your instant damning of wealth and fame as poor goals to have given that you’re obviously busy raising your own profile. Let people determine their own goals as you have done for yourself – now that’s generous and authentic!
http://www.facebook.com/jane.richardson.1401 Jane Richardson

Thank you for clearing this up for me!
elucia

The vision board is a glance a snap shot of the end goal and should have some of the steps included but very few. Brian your advice sucks. First because you assume people don’t have a thought process when they are putting their boards together. A well put together vision board should have the final outcome which is the is carrot…the end result. The steps should be written in a planner,or in an agenda, calendared as a daily task…ect. Don’t discourage the dreamers because that is where it all begins as a dream.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Danielle-Skodak/100001678846649 Danielle Skodak

Thanks for giving me a different view of these things. I’ve been making vision boards and visualizing the awesome custom mansion, the money and opening my own non-profit for about 3 years now, and have gotten little more than coincidental results. I have an incredibly hard time with pretending to be rich, famous and in perfect health when I simply am not there yet. Affirmations have been a crap chute because the statements are simply not true right now. My mind just isn’t able to make those leaps, I know as I say “I have achieved my ideal weight and I feel light and free” that in that moment I certainly do not feel that way. The secret and other popular self help methods do tend to focus on the end result, and don’t really offer a lot of real world, here and now, step by step advice on how to get to those goals. It’s just “think and visualize hard….question mark…goal is achieved”. I’m going to take your methods and combine them with the methods from those type of teachings that did work for me. I think people get caught up in some kind of loyalty to a particular philosophy. I know I was caught up in “I must live the secret”, even when not all of the processes worked for me. If your method and something from Buddhism and something from quantum physics all make sense, I should definitely use all of them
lajoven13

How funny that right before I saw this video recommended online, I wrote on my To-Do List today, “Goal-setting.” Literally, could not have come at a better time. No doubt the points in this video tutorial are absolutely true. In fact, I am guilty of consistently setting extrinsic goals. Rightfully so, extrinsic goals dominate my every move, thought and action day to day. Why are we so focused on the end product rather than the process? Similarly, why do we look forward to the future without enjoying the present? The points made in this video are not only valid but will take some practice and getting use to. It’s hard to change the societal framework which glorifies fame, wealth and hotness. Moreover, when achieving these so called extrinsic traits, our ego leads us to believe we are better and more special than others and it’s undeniably true that society reinforces this. The difficulty here is taking the pressure off of ourselves and enjoying the “ride.” Finally, there is truth to the point that setting extrinsic goals will actually diminish your well being. How far are we willing to go to attain “success” with the risk of harming ourselves? Obsessiveness in achieving goals can lead to sickness which in turn leads to breaking down. I’m curious to know what other ways these goals are harmful to our well being.
Niloo

FANTASTIC Brian. I actually made a vision board a few weeks ago with pictures of Oprah on it and it was all about “success” in my business…but I kept thinking as I was making it “Gosh why does htis not feel right? Why doesn’t this feel aligned with my truth?” and I came to the exacts ame conclusion that tehse were extrinsic goals and I didn’t really care about being Oprah..>I want to feel FULFILLED by my work…the rest of that fame stuff would just be a happy side benefit to what I TRULY want. THanks for spreading the word about this!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1380540003 Falcon Griffith

Great video! Something else that I love doing, as recommended by Gabrielle Bernstein, is to put things on your vision board that you are already grateful for in your life–makes a huge difference!

2 Reasons Why Your Vision Board Might Suck (and How to Unsuck It)

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